Women

Catherine Powell argues that the advances made by Afghan women since the 2001 U.S.-led intervention remain fragile. She recommends that the United States bolster gender equality before the drawdown is complete and continue working with Afghanistan to maintain these gains in the future.

Curbing child marriage has become increasingly important to the global development discussion, but it has yet to become central to the discussion about security and stability. Senior Fellow Gayle Tzemach Lemmon reviews child marriage trends in fragile countries affected by natural disasters and/or armed conflict, and offers policy recommendation on how the United States can ensure that girls and women are still able to reach their full potential even in times of social instability and insecurity.

Despite headlines about cruel acts of violence and discrimination against women, Isobel Coleman discusses the changing status of women and girls and argues that women and girls have made significant and undeniable gains over the past few decades.

As feminism has come of age, it has powerfully instantiated itself into global governance. What are the tools feminism has borrowed – even co-opted – to embed itself within governance? Do these tools enhance or diminish the libratory potential of feminism? This paper looks at one tool – the use of quantitative indicators to advance gender equality in global governance. The paper focuses on the World Bank’s relatively new Women, Business and the Law program, as a microcosm of the recent explosion and popularity of gender indicators.

By developing a stronger understanding of what works and what does not in combatting child marriage, policymakers and civil society leaders will be better equipped to end child marriage. Senior Fellow Gayle Tzemach Lemmon and Research Associate Lynn S. ElHarake identify the drivers of child marriage and the factors that can curb it.

A new interactive guide from the Council on Foreign Relations examines the threat that child marriage poses both to the prosperity and stability of the countries in which it is prevalent and to U.S. development and foreign policy interests.

CFR Senior Fellow Isobel Coleman leads a conversation with Mary Ellen Iskenderian of Women's World Banking and Steve Hollingworth of Freedom from Hunger about how savings are blazing the next frontier in poverty eradication.

Rachel Vogelstein, CFR's fellow for women and foreign policy, and Ruth Messinger, president of American Jewish World Service, discuss ending the practice of child marriage at the American Academy of Religion 2013 Annual Meeting, as part of CFR's Religion and Foreign Policy Initiative.

Rachel Vogelstein, CFR's fellow for women and foreign policy, and Ruth Messinger, president of American Jewish World Service, discuss ending the practice of child marriage at the American Academy of Religion 2013 Annual Meeting, as part of CFR's Religion and Foreign Policy Initiative.

This UN resolution was adopted on October 31, 2000; it was the first UN resolution regarding women, peace, and security and "urges all actors to increase the participation of women and incorporate gender perspectives in all United Nations peace and security efforts." On October 18, 2013, the resolution was reviewed and it was requested that an annual report be published on member states progress in implementing Resolutions 1325 and 2122.

Rachel B. Vogelstein, CFR's fellow for women and foreign policy, discusses the link between U.S. foreign policy and the rights of women and girls around the world, as part of CFR's Academic Conference Call series.

Rachel B. Vogelstein, CFR's fellow for women and foreign policy, discusses the link between U.S. foreign policy and the rights of women and girls around the world, as part of CFR's Academic Conference Call series.